Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for an acquired mental health disorder (including PTSD and insomnia disorder) is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issue.,Service connection for a low back disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issue.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for bilateral blepharitis is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for a headache disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of her contentions regarding her eye disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, and peripheral edema.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions are not proximately due to or caused by his service-connected multi-level degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee meniscal tear was denied. The Board found that the flexion limitation did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5260.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for axonal peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder. However, these claims are still being remanded as VA is required to provide a medical examination to determine if there is a nexus between the current disabilities and the in-service events.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been granted an initial 10 percent rating. The Board finds further development is required for the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disability and surgical scars are being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including rating determinations and service connection for various conditions. The case is returned to the AOJ for initial review of new evidence.

The Board has ordered a new examination for the Veteran's right knee disability and requested additional records, including VA treatment records from Salisbury and Community Care Program records. The Veteran was also asked to submit hard copies of documents contained on a CD and complete a TDIU application form.

The Board has remanded three issues related to increased ratings for various knee and cervical spine conditions due to the submission of new evidence since the last Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to unclear functional loss and incomplete examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, including failure to provide a VA examination as instructed in the July 2019 remand. The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is still at issue and requires further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for bilateral congenital pes planus with bilateral metatarsalgia is dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues related to his service-connected hip, knee, and ankle conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), but denied service connection for neck and right knee disorders. The case is remanded for further development regarding the claims of service connection for OSA, GERD, and other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of recent Fort Bragg medical records and for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFS) limitation of flexion are denied as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service, including his in-service injury and post-service work injury, as well as whether it is aggravated by his service-connected multiple sclerosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The issues of increased ratings for right knee internal derangement with traumatic arthritis, instability of the right knee, and residuals of a right total knee arthroplasty are being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU issue.